Curved divider tray



. Aug 28, 1962 M. A. GROGEL 3,051,346

CURVEDv DIVIDER TRAY Filed Feb. 19. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR F G 5 HERR/LLA. GRoGEL A TORNEYS United States 3,051,346 CURVED DIVIDER TRAY Merrill A. Grogel, Richmond, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 794,274 4 Claims. (Cl. 220--23.8)

This invention relates to dinner trays, and particularly to dinner trays which are made from drawn metal sheet or foil, such as of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

The term dinner is used herein as a term of convenience, to describe various trays, dishes and other constructions adapted to receive food and other substances, which trays are subdivided into compartments to receive different substances, such as meats and vegetables.

Compartmented trays of such character ordinarily are subdivided by upwardly directed ridges, which produce upward grooves on the bottom side of the tray. Such constructions are likely to bend along such grooves, particularly when the tray is held at a corner adjacent to such groove.

There are a number of trays now on the market, particularly used to receive dinners to be frozen, and which have the general appearance of the tray disclosed in the patent to St. Clair, 2,738,915, patented March 20, `1956. However, the trays now on the market are generally made of metal sheet or foil, and omit the corrugations l2 of such patent. Such trays have ridges corresponding to ridges 21, 22 and 24 of the patent, except that such ridges extend substantially to the same height as the rim of the tray. Also the ridges 21 and 22 of the trays now on the market have at tops approximately 716 inch wide instead of the sharp ridges of the patent. When such trays are held at the outer corners of the compartments 18 and 19 of the patent, the groove at Z1 or 22 respectively, is likely to bend and cause the tray to collapse, because a straight bend line exists and can be extended to the edges of the tray along the ridges 21 and 22. Hence such trays are very susceptible to collapse along such bend line.

The trays now on the market cannot be provided with the groove 23 of the patent, whether such groove is successful or not, because the ridges 2l, 22, and 24 extend upward to the level of the rim and thus do not permit the addition of such groove 23. The trays now on the market are still very susceptible to the bending action described.

According to this invention, a novel cooperation is provided between a bead at the rim of the tray, not shown in the patent, with a novel, sharp, inverted V-ridge which has a strengthening reversing curvature in the ridge, to prevent such collapse. Such curved ridge is also combined, in certain embodiments, which another ridge, or ridges. This invention thus provides opposed stress bracing principles produced by the sharply converging ridge Walls in combination with a reversely curving ridge so there is no tendency for the tray to break on the previously described vulnerable straight bend line.

Convenient terms of description are used herein, such as verticaL horizontal, and the like, and are applied to the tray in its normal position in use, it being understood that such terms are not applicable when the tray is not in such position.

When the trays of this invention are made of substan tially rectangular shape, Whether square or not, the sides of the tray may be given a slight curvature which aids in increasing the strength of the tray and in producing a pleasing appearance, particularly when taken in combination with the curved divider ridges of this invention. Certain advantages of this invention are obtained, however, when such curvature of the edges is not used.

3,951,346 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 The invention also includes, when desired, the provision of a trench or groove along the sides of the tray, which trench or groove is adapted to receive slight spillovers when `the tray is held at a slight inclination, and also is adapted to strengthen the side edges of the tray against bending or breaking at this point.

A tray according to this invention may be made of lighter foil or sheet While retaining the strength of a heavier previous dinner tray.

The tray also has a very attractive appearance, and has compartments which more readily receive the usual meat and vegetable servings which are now being provided in frozen dinners.

The tray also is very convenient to use, since there are no acute angles at various corners of the compartments to interfere with the use of knives, forks and spoons, while eating from the tray.

-The various shapes entering into the construction of the tray are so coordinated that the sheet or foil may be drawn between dies of a press without straining the material of the sheet. The dividers, or inverted V-ridges, rising from the bottom of the tray are so constructed Ias to provide opposed stress bracing principles produced by balanced reverse curves and curved creases so there is no tendency for the tray to break along any particular straight bend line which heretofore has frequently happened in previous dividers.y The curved design is also coordinated with the gener-al shape of the compartments so that there are no arcute angles at the corners to interfere with satisfatcory use of knives, forks or spoons. The curved V-ridges, or dividers, are coordinated in appearance with the gently curved outer rims of the dish to produce a pleasing appearance.

Further objects or advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a dinner plate embodying features of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE l. Y

FIGURE 4 is a plan View of another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a cross `section of another embodiment of the edge of the dinner tray.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 3, a tray according to this invention includes -a `drawn sheet of metal or the like forming opposite pairs 10a `and 10b of elevated, substantially horizontal, beaded edge Walls having a bead 11. The Walls surround the entire tray, and `are of equal height, The edges of the tray are shown slightly curved, instead of straight, as this presents a pleasing appearance and prevents an optical illusion of inwardly curved sides, when the sides are straight. A strengthening effect is produced by such curvature. However, straight sides may -be used when desired. A mainly flat, horizontal, bottom wall 14 is connected to the ledge walls 10a and y10b mainly by an upwardly slanting and rising Wall 16 which extends around the entire perimeter of the tray, except at intersections with the dividers hereinafter described. An inverted V-ridge wall, indicated by the arrow 18, has a relatively sharp ridge 20 continuously and reversely curving laterally a material distance from straight lines, such as dotted lines 22, 24, 26 and 28, which connect various distant points, such at 32, 34, 36, and 38. The inverted V-ridge wall, and its ridge 20 also curves laterally and reversely for a major distance between the straight'dotted line 39 which extends between the two points 30 `and 40 on opposed edge walls 10a. The

sharp ridge 20 joins the portions 30 and 4t) of the edge walls a at elevated flat platforms 42 and 44, which platforms are located at places devoid of acute angles between the ridge and the edge walls 10a. This permits easy flow of the metal inwardly during the drawing operation to prevent straining the material of the metal sheet. The ridge 20 is substantially of the same height as the edge walls 10a and 10b. The V-ridge wall has two sides 18a and 18b both of which are upwardly slanting and rising walls similar to the wall 16. Walls 18a and 18b converge into the sharp ridge 20.

A second inverted V-ridge wall 46 joins an intermediate point 48 of the rst V-ridge wall :18 and also another point 50 on a separate portion of the edge wall 10b. The ridge 46 has slanting side walls 46a similar in construction to walls 18a and 18b. There are elevated platforms 52 and 54 where the second V-ridge wall 46 intersects the iirst V-ridge wall 18 and the edge wall 1Gb.

The foregoing construction of the sharp reversely curved V-ridge 20, and its relationship with the edge -walls 10a and with the intersecting ridge `46 produces opposed stress bracing forces, in cooperation with the slanting side walls 18a, i18b, 46a and 46h, which strongly tend to prevent a direct line breakage when the tray is held at a corner, and particularly 1when held -at either of the corners 60a and 62. The reason for this is that no straight line can be drawn along any of the inverted V-ridges between any two points on separate portions of the edge walls 10a and 10b. For example, there are a plurality of straight lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 between the points 30 and 38 and the curving sharp ridge 20 departs laterally and reversely from such lines to produce the bracing Iforces. Also no straight line can be drawn between Ithe points 30 and 38 which Iwould produce a tendency to collapse along such straight line. The same is true between the separate portions 38a and 40 in which the Ainverted V-ridge is a mirror image of the portion of the left hand ridge which has been fully described. The trays now on the market tend to collapse along a straight line drawn from the point 30 to the point '3S (of this application) because of their long, tiat, straight ridge which coincides with most of such a straight line. The same is true with respect to -a straight line from point 40 Ato point 38a.

In the tray of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 the compartment A is particularly adapted to receive cuts of meat, or pieces of yfried chicken, while the compartments B and C are particularly adaptedto receive vegetables or the like.

The lines 64, 66 `and 68 yare intended to indicate the merging zone between the bottom 14 of the tray and the upwardly slantirlg Walls 18a, 18h, 16, etc., which extend from the bottom 14 to the edge, 10a, 10b or ridge 20'.

IIn the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 a somewhat similar dinner tray and the like is shown. Where possible, reference characters similar to those used in connection with FIGURES 1-3 'are used, With 100 added thereto, and it is intended that the same descrip- Ition applies to such similarly numbered parts. The tray of FIGURES 4 and 5 is formed from a drawn metal sheet, made preferably from aluminum or aluminum alloy to form opposed pairs .-110a and 110b of elevated, substantially horizontal, beaded, edge walls which surround the said tray, and are of equal height. A mainly at, horizontal, bottom wall 1'14 is connected to the edge walls 110a and 110b mainly by an upwardly slanting and rising wall 1116. The edge Walls l10n and 110b may have a bead .111. The edge Iwalls 110a and f1.10b may be slightly curved, as shown, or they may be substan- .tially straight. An inverted V-ridge wall Iindicated by the arrow 118 has a relatively sharp ridge 120 at the top, substantially of the height of the edge walls 110a and 110b. The main ridge 120 continuously curves laterally a material distance from a straight line which connects two or more distant points within the perimeter of the tray, such as points `13:0, 132, 134 and 136. The

i V-ridge wall has two upwardly slanting and rising walls 11851 and 118b. The points 130, l132, 134, and 136, may be joined by lines similar to dotted lines 22, 24, 26 of FIGURE l, and it is evident that the ridge 120 curves continuously laterally a material distance from such straight lines. Likewise, a straight line connecting the point 130 and the point 14@ may be dravm, and the ridge 12) continuously curves laterally and reversely a material distance from said straight line. The ridge y'120 joins the portions 142 and 144 of the edge walls l10n at elevated flat platforms which `are located at places devoid of acute angles between the ridge and the edge walls lltla. This permits easy flow of the metal inwardly during the drawing operation without straining the metal material of the sheet.

A second ridge 146 joins an intermediate point 14S of the iirst named main ridge 120 and another point 150 on another portion of the edge wall 11017. There are elevated platforms 152 and 154 where the second ridge 146 intersects the edge wall 110b and the main V-ridge wall 120. There are compartments 100A, 16GB and 160C adapted to receive pieces of meat, etc., at A, and vegetables at compartments 106B and 106C. In addition, the compartment 160C may be used to receive a cup or glass instead of a vegetable if desired, as indicated by the curved line 180. All of the parts which have been indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5 with a prex of 100 added to corresponding parts in FIGURES l to 3 operate substantially in the same manner, as is evident. For example, the lines 164, 166 and 168` indicate where the slanting ywalls 118:1, 1181) and 116 join the substantially flat horizontal bottom wall 114 of the tray. The ridge 146 curves continuously from platform 152 to platform 154. The

ridge 146 has slanting side walls 146a and 146b similar in construction to side walls 118a and 11812. The ridge 146 is of strong bracing construction because of its continuous curving nature. All of the descriptions given with respect to FIGURES 1 to 3 apply equally as well to FIGURES 4 and 5 and are not fluther described or repeated.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6r, which is applicable to FIGURES 1-5, the edge walls 10a and 10b (or l10n and 1i10b) are given a trenchlike groove 152 which makes trenched edges which combine with the curl 184 which is lower than -bead 11a to make such edges much stronger. They also catch any slight spillovers from the main body of the tray and prevent spillage on lthe iloor. The bead 11a is substantially the same as the bead 11 or 111 heretofore described in the other iigures. The remaining portions of the tray may be substantially the same as heretofore described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 5 inclusive.

The trays herein described may be used to receive dinners to be frozen in the manner of the trays now 0n the market. They are covered, wrapped and frozen in the same manner and are unwrapped and baked in the same marmer. However, because of the reversely curved inverted V-ridge construction, the trays of this invention may be constructed of aluminum foil or sheet of .001 0r .002 thinner than previous trays while still having the same strength against collapse. For example, a tray of .006 inch which is a suitable thickness for a tray according to this invention has the strength of a previous tray of .007 and even .008 inch thickness. Other gauges, such as from .005-.010 thickness are correspondingly strong. In View of this, the tray of this invention is more economical than previous trays. The lack of acute angles in the compartments permits the use of knives, forks and spoons in a more desirable manner. Such lack of acute angles also permits an easier ilow of metal inwardly during the `drawing operation. In trays of this construction, there are substantially no places Where there is a straight ridge or a straight inverted V-ridge wall which could fold and cause collapse of the tray. Where there are very short, straight inverted V-ridges, the length of such V-ridges is so short, and is counter-balanced by an opposing curved inverted V-ridge wall, in such a manner that any tendency to collapse at these points is completely counterbalanced by the transverse curved V-ridge.

Merely by way of example, the tray shown in FIG- URES 1 through 3 may be 7 x 9 inches at its longest and widest dimensions. The top of the floor 14 may be 1% inch below the top of the edge walls a and 10b. The edge walls 10a and 10b may be 3/16 inch wide. The walls 18a, 18b 46a and 4Gb may form an angle of from 60 to 70 at the under side of t-he ridge. The bead 11 may be above the top of the walls 10a and 10b and may be substantially 1/16 inch in diameter. The bead 1d may extend outwardly from the walls 10a and 10b 1/16 inch.

The tray shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 may be 8 X 8 i-nches at the longest distance between the beads of walls llfla and 110]) respectively. The corresponding heights, angles, and other dimensions of this tray may be the same as given with respec-t to FIGURES 1 through 3 wherever similarity applies.

This invention is also applicable to a sheet of other material.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

l. A dinner tray and the like comprising a flexible sheet forming an edge surrounding said tray, a bottom wall connected to said edge by a rising wall, an inverted V-ridge divider wall having a relatively sharp ridge at the top and joining said bottom wall at the base to divide said bottom wall into a plurality of compartments, one of said compartments having a substantially triangular configuration defined by said edge and said V-ridge divider wall, said V-ridge divider wall having an arcuate central portion defining the apex of said triangular cornfpartment and part of the pair of legs of said triangular compartment, said V-ridge divider wall having a pair of end portions respectively interconnected to said central portion and reversely curving relative thereto to define a continuous substantially S-shaped configuration for each leg of said triangular compartment whereby each leg deviates substantially from a straight line, said end portions respectively defining at least part of the remainder of said pair of legs of said triangular compartment.

2. A dinner tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein another Vdivider wall extends from said edge and joins said V-ridge divider wall at the central portion thereof.

3. A dinner tray and the like comprising a exible sheet forming opposite pairs of opposed edges joined at their ends to surround said tray, said sheet also forming a mainly flat, horizontal bottom wall connected to said edges by rising walls, said sheet also forming a divider in the form of an inverted V-ridge including two upwardly converging walls forming a relatively sharp ridge at the top and joining said bottom wall at the base, said divider extending from a point on one edge of a pair of opposed edges to a point on the opposed edge of said pair of edges and dividing said tray into a plurality of compartments, one of said compartments having a substantially triangular configuration defined by certain of said edges and said divider, said divider having an arcuate central portion defining the apex of said triangular compartment and part of the pair of legs of said triangular compartment, said divider having a pair of end portions respectively interconnected to said central portion and reversely curving relative thereto to define a continuous substantially S-shaped configuration for each leg of said triangular compartment whereby each leg deviates substantially from a straight line, said end portions respectively defining at least part of the remainder of said pair of legs of said triangular compartment.

4. A `dinner tray as set forth in claim 3 wherein another divider extends from one edge of the other pair of edges and joins said first-named divider at the central portion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 22,305 Gulick Mar. 21, 1893 D. 166,735 Chaplin May 13, 1952 D. 184,888 Pickett Apr. 14, 1959 2,700,284 Lyon Jan. 25, 1955 2,703,185 Cook Mar. 1, 1955 2,738,915 St. Clair Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,322 Great Britain Aug. 3l, 1895 

